10 Perfect Gifts for Rock Climbers
A climber's gear list is never-ending.
A lot of outdoor activities are gear-intensive, but if we were going to hold a contest for busiest gear room, rock climbers would surely be giving any other folks a run for their money. Multiple ropes ranging from 45m to 70m, helmets, harnesses, headlamps, cams on cams, gym shoes, trad shoes, approach shoes, soooo many carabiners, packs of all sizes...it's endless. The good news is that since climbers are always ready for more gear, you always have a few good gift options around the holidays. Below are 10 of our favorite pieces of climbing gear. Check them out and give your beloved climber a little drop in their ocean of climbing gear.
1. Mammut Wall Rider MIPS Climbing Helmet
Liam McNally says, "As a guy who played football and rugby for over a decade (and suffered my fair share of concussions), I am especially appreciative of Mammut's efforts to advance helmet technology for the climbing community with their new Wall Rider Climbing Helmet. MIPS stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System and the system is meant to reduce the amount of rotational acceleration your brain experiences during impact on your head." Read his review here."
2. Black Diamond Alpine Start Hooded Jacket
Liam McNally says, "The Alpine Start Hooded Jacket from Black Diamond is ideal for exactly what its name suggests. Whether I'm wearing it for an early morning climb in Tuolumne Meadows or for any dawn patrol mission, it's a fantastic choice to block crisp morning air, moderate winds, and even light rain." Read his review here and check out the women's here.
3. Patagonia Nine Trails 14L Backpack
Kristi Teplitz says, "The Patagonia Nine Trails 14L is a perfect climbing pack for day use. It is small, it has a super light frame and it can hold a 2L water bladder easily. The large pocket is great for holding my emergency provisions, the small, zipped, exterior pocket fits snacks and my phone nicely, and the exterior stretch pocket is great for quickly stashing a layer. The material is more durable than I expected it to be - mine has already taken some serious abuse and besides being dirty, the bag is in great condition." Read her review here.
4. Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoes
Will McKay says, "To test these shoes, we first went to pull on some indoor plastic. These shoes are marketed as a pair that you'll be able to use from gym to crag so why not test both of those locations? The first thing we liked out of the gate was the comfort these shoes provided. You can literally wear them for an hour at the gym if you size them properly. This makes them a great candidate for some mellow multi-pitches. Later on that week, we headed down to Indian Creek in Utah for a weekend full of splitter and ripped up hands. This is where the testers said the shoe performed the best. It's slim profile allowed for really solid foot jams. The benefit of it's comfort came back once again on the rope stretcher routes." Read his full review here and check out the men's here.
5. Petzl GRIGRI 2 Belay Device
Liam McNally says, "Though nothing can replace proper technique and attentive belaying and no belay device is foolproof, the GRIGRI 2 is as close as you can come. It's lightweight, easy to use, and the assisted breaking provides excellent control and additional safety. I was hesitant to transition from my trusted ATC, but once I switched the the GRIGRI 2 I never looked back."
6. Metolius Session II Crash Pad
Luke Webster says, "The Metolius Sessions II is one of the best, if not the best crash pad for weekend city climbers. The pad is small enough and compact enough to fit into a small trunk or into a passenger seat of a car. Additionally, the crash pad is able to transform from backpack to crash pad and back in a few seconds due to handy velcro straps and a simple buckle that enables easy boulder-to-boulder transportation." Read his review here.
7. Mammut Neon Smart 35 Pack
Liam McNally says, "I fell in love with this pack immediately. The Neon Smart is everything I'd want in a climbing pack, particularly for sport climbing, the gym, or cragging, which is what it was designed for. It's not designed for multi-pitch climbing, but I did try it out on Hermaphrodite Flake + Boltway in Yosemite to see how it performed. While most climbers, myself included, would take a smaller pack for routes like this, I didn't think twice about having it on my back." Read his review here.
8. BioLite HeadLamp
Liam McNally says, "There is one complaint I've had about virtually any headlamp I've tried in the past: when running or making quick movements of any kind, the bouncing of the headlamp on your forehead can sometimes be unbearable. Enter the BioLite HeadLamp. Read his review here."
9. La Sportiva Men's TX2 Shoe
Liam McNally says, "Whether you're making some tricky moves on a class 4 approach or bouldering up a few feet to get a shot of your friend climbing, the TX2s feel just as great edging or smearing as they do hiking trails and walking across granite slabs. The TechLite toe rand helps you feel extra secure when digging in on a steeper approach on rock." Read his review here and check out the women's here.
10. Mammut Magic Boulder Chalk Bag
Luke Webster says, "The Magic Chalk Bag’s ability to transform from a portable sleeve to a stationary bucket is my favorite feature of the chalk bag. In addition to this, the bucket in stationary form has a wide base and stable set-up. Due to the built in drawstrings, the Mammut Magic Boulder Chalk Bag can withstand even the clumsiest of gym climbers." Read his review here.
Cover photo: Josiah Roe
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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